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How virtual fence, robot dogs could change beef production

The Farm of the Future at the University of Illinois will explore cutting-edge technology being developed for beef production.

Tom J. Bechman, Midwest Crops Editor

September 17, 2024

3 Min Read
robot dog by Unitree Robotics
NO BARK, ALL ACTION: This robot dog will get a real test once the beef herd is assembled to graze cover crops at the Farm of the Future at the University of Illinois.photos by Tom J. Bechman

Think you’ve seen everything? Unless you have seen a robot dog interact with real cows in a field with no interior fences, you haven’t! Soon, you should be able to see this technology at the Farm of the Future, which is moving from planning to implementation stages at the University of Illinois.

A key part of the Farm of the Future, located near U of I’s Beef Farm and Energy Farm south of Champaign, Ill., will be grazing trials with cover crops. “We want to establish cover crops in the fall and graze beef cattle so we can evaluate the economic impact of this practice,” explains Talon Becker, a commercial agriculture specialist with U of I Extension.

These grazing trials will be set up using the latest technology in livestock production, starting with drones to measure forage mass. Italo Braz Goncalves de Lima, with animal sciences at U of I, will help implement and manage assistive technologies.

Virtual fence

The trials will use virtual paddocks. No, cows won’t use a computer to locate virtual fence lines. They will wear solar-powered collars that receive and transmit signals. An app allows you to set boundaries for them. Because you can move the fence easily, the technology is ideal for rotational grazing, where you may want to move animals often as they graze off small areas of the pasture.

Related:New Illinois Extension agronomist ready to tackle nutrient research

Currently, five companies offer virtual fence technology, with a similar concept used by each one. “We see this as another tool in the toolbox for someone wanting to do rotational grazing,” Goncalves de Lima. “It should let you do a more effective job of utilizing pasture.”

a model setup of a beef farm with corral and chute

Don’t worry — recommendations still call for a physical fence on the perimeter of the field. “We’re going to make sure we have a perimeter fence before we turn cattle out and begin controlling where they can graze with virtual fencing,” Goncalves de Lima says.

Robot dogs

Goncalves de Lima expects robot dogs will help train and corral cows on the Farm of the Future. He and associates are already experimenting with a quadruped robot dog from Unitree Robotics. He says list price for models that work for this application start around $1,850. A quick tour of the Unitree website indicates that price and capabilities for these robots vary widely.

“These robot dogs have excellent mobility, and we intend to use them for data collection,” the animal scientist says. “We should also be able to collect data with virtual fence collars.”

Goncalves de Lima believes robot dogs will eventually be efficient at helping move cattle from one virtual paddock to the next. Right now, still in the infancy stages of using robots, researchers are trying to answer simple questions. How will cattle react? Will it be a positive experience for them?”

“So far, we have shown that cows won’t charge and destroy them like some feared,” he says. “As we move forward, we want to make sure they don’t stress animals.”

Read more about:

Grazing Systems

About the Author

Tom J. Bechman

Midwest Crops Editor, Farm Progress

Tom J. Bechman became the Midwest Crops editor at Farm Progress in 2024 after serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer for 23 years. He joined Farm Progress in 1981 as a field editor, first writing stories to help farmers adjust to a difficult harvest after a tough weather year. His goal today is the same — writing stories that help farmers adjust to a changing environment in a profitable manner.

Bechman knows about Indiana agriculture because he grew up on a small dairy farm and worked with young farmers as a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor before joining Farm Progress. He works closely with Purdue University specialists, Indiana Farm Bureau and commodity groups to cover cutting-edge issues affecting farmers. He specializes in writing crop stories with a focus on obtaining the highest and most economical yields possible.

Tom and his wife, Carla, have four children: Allison, Ashley, Daniel and Kayla, plus eight grandchildren. They raise produce for the food pantry and house 4-H animals for the grandkids on their small acreage near Franklin, Ind.

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